Seat

ABSTRACT

A seat is provided and may include a rigid body having a unitary construction and a recessed area defining a seating location. The seat may additionally include an insert secured to the rigid body within the recessed area. In one configuration, the insert may be formed from a different material than the rigid body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/791,043, filed on Mar. 15, 2013, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/673,364, filed on Jul. 19, 2012. The entire disclosures of each of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a seat and more particularly to an incline sleep seat for a baby.

BACKGROUND

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

Seats and other support devices are commonly designed for a specific use. For example, car seats and infant carriers are specifically designed to support and protect a baby during transport by positioning the baby at a desired angle relative to a restraint of the car seat or carrier. Likewise, mechanical swings and stationary booster seats are sized and configured to properly position a baby relative to an external device such as a mobile or table to allow the baby to be comfortably seated when playing with the mobile or when eating.

While conventional baby seats adequately support a baby during use, such seats are often difficult to maintain and are bulky and cumbersome. For example, many car seats and infant carriers include a fabric insert or lining that serves to cushion the baby during use. While such inserts adequately cushion and support a baby, such inserts are difficult to maintain, as cleaning the insert often requires the car seat or infant carrier to be at least partially disassembled prior to washing the insert. Further, such car seats and infant carriers are often large and bulky and, as a result, are not ideal for use in a home or daycare center.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

A seat is provided and may include a rigid body having a unitary construction and a recessed area defining a seating location. The seat may additionally include an insert secured to the rigid body within the recessed area. In one configuration, the insert may be formed from a different material than the rigid body.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seat in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the seat of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the seat of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a seat in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the seat of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the seat of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a seat in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the seat of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of the seat of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a plurality of stacked seats in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a seat in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a side view of the seat of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is bottom perspective view of the seat of FIG. 11.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.

When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.

Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

With particular reference to FIGS. 1-3, a seat 10 is provided and may include a base 12 and an insert 14. The base 12 and the insert 14 cooperate to provide a seating surface for supporting a baby or other small child. Further, the base 12 and/or the insert 14 may be formed from a material that allows the base 12 and/or insert 14 to be easily cleaned, as will be described in greater detail below.

The base 12 may include a recessed portion 16, a contoured top surface 18, a bottom or support surface 20, and sidewalls 22. The recessed portion 16 may be formed into the contoured top surface 18 such that the top surface 18 surrounds an outer perimeter of the recessed portion 16. The recessed portion 16 may include a first angled surface 24, a second angled surface 26, and a series of apertures or other attachment features 28 formed into the base 12.

The first angled surface 24 may be larger than the second angled surface 26 to allow the first angled surface 24 to support a head, neck, and torso of a baby or child positioned in the seat 10. The second angled surface 26 may be smaller than the first angled surface 24 to allow the second angled surface 26 to support the legs and feet of a baby positioned in the seat 10. As described, the first angled surface 24 and second angled surface 26 may be positioned relative to one another and within the base 12 to allow the recessed portion 16 to support a baby within the recessed portion 16.

The attachment features 28 may be formed into the base 12 to provide mounting locations for attachment of a belt or other restraint device (neither shown) to the base 12. Namely, the attachment features 28 may provide a path through the base 12 to allow a restraint device to be attached to the base 12. For example, the restraint device my include a belt that may be used to selectively surround a torso of a baby positioned in the seat 10 to restrict removal of the baby from the recessed portion 16.

The contoured top surface 18 may include a shape that approximates the shape of the recessed portion 16. Namely, the top surface 18 may include a depression 30 that is substantially aligned with a bottom 17 of the recessed portion 16 in a direction extending along a longitudinal axis 32 (FIG. 2) of the base 12. Further, the top surface 18 may include a first peak 34 substantially aligned with a top portion of the first angled surface 24 and a second peak 36 substantially aligned with a top portion of the second angled surface 26. As described and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the depression 30, the first peak 34, and the second peak 36 may cooperate to provide the contoured top surface 18 with a wave-like shape that approximates and accommodates the shape of the recessed portion 16. Namely, the top surface 18 may include a shape, whereby the depression 30, the first peak 34, and the second peak 36 are respectively aligned with the bottom 17 of the recessed portion 16, the top of the first angled surface 24, and the top of the second angled surface 26.

The bottom or support surface 20 of the base 12 may extend along an entire length of the base 12 and may be substantially planar. As such, the contoured top surface 18 may terminate at the support surface 20 at two discrete edges 38 (FIG. 3) along the longitudinal axis 32 of the base 12. The sidewalls 22 may likewise terminate at two discrete edges 40 of the support surface 20 such that the sidewalls 22 each extend between the discrete edges 40 and the top surface 18. As with the support surface 20, the sidewalls 22 may be substantially planar along an entire length of each sidewall 22 such that the sidewalls 22 are formed substantially perpendicular to the support surface 20. While the sidewalls 22 are described and shown as being substantially perpendicular to the support surface 20, the sidewalls 22 may be formed at an angle relative to the support surface 20. For example, the support surface 20 may include a larger length and/or width than the top surface 18 and, as a result, the sidewalls 22 may be formed at an angle relative to the top surface 18 and the support surface 20 to allow the sidewalls 22 to extend between the top surface 18 and the support surface 20.

The base 12 may be formed from a relatively rigid material such as, for example, plastic, structural foam, or wood. Forming the base 12 from a relatively rigid material likewise provides the base 12 with exterior surfaces that are substantially rigid. Furthermore, forming the base 12 from a relatively rigid material likewise allows exterior surfaces of the base 12 to include a substantially smooth texture. Allowing the exterior surfaces of the base 12 to be substantially rigid and smooth facilitates cleaning of the base 12 by allowing the exterior surfaces of the base 12 to be cleaned by simply wiping the surfaces with a cloth or other cleaner.

As described, the base 12 may be formed from a plastic material, structural foam, or wood. Accordingly, the base 12 may be formed by an injection-molding process, an extrusion process, a thermal-forming or pressure-forming process, a rotational-molding process, a blow-molding process, or a formed-wood process. Any of the foregoing processes and materials allow the base to include a substantially rigid construction.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1-3, the insert 14 is shown as being received by and disposed within the recessed portion 16 of the base 12. As such, the insert 14 may include a similar shape as the recessed portion 16 to allow the insert 14 to substantially cover the entire recessed portion 16.

The insert 14 may include a lip 42 that surrounds an outer perimeter of the insert 14 and extends at least partially over a portion of the top surface 18. The insert 14 may additionally include a series of apertures 44 (FIG. 1) that are aligned with the attachment features 28 of the recessed portion 16 to provide access to the attachment features 28. In one configuration, the apertures 44 of the insert 14 may be used to allow a restraint device such as a belt to extend through the insert 14.

The insert 14 may be formed from virtually any material. For example, the insert 14 may be formed from fabric, plastic, or foam, and may be substantially rigid or, alternatively, may be relatively soft to provide cushioning to a baby received within the recessed portion 16. Because the insert 14 may be formed from fabric, plastic, or foam, the insert 14 may be formed by a foaming process such as ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam molding, plastic-injection molding, or sewing. Regardless of the particular material used in forming the insert 14, the insert 14 may include a substantially smooth outer surface 46 that allows the insert 14 to be easily cleaned by wiping the surface 46 with a cloth or other cleaner.

The insert 14 may be attached to the base 12 by a suitable adhesive disposed between the recessed portion 16 of the base 12 and the insert 14. Alternatively, the insert 14 may be received within the recessed portion 16 but may be selectively removed from the recessed portion 16 to allow cleaning of the insert 14 and/or base 12.

In use, a baby may be placed within the recessed portion 16 and in engagement with the insert 14. Once placed within the recessed portion 16, the restraint device may be used to secure the baby within the recessed portion 16. Once properly positioned, a head and torso of the baby may be in contact with the insert 14 adjacent to the first angled surface 24 of the recessed portion 16 while the legs and feet of the baby are in contact with the insert 14 proximate to the second angled surface 26 of the recessed portion 16. Regardless of the exact position of the baby within the recessed portion 16, when the baby is seated in the seat 10, the entire body of the baby is contained within the recessed portion 16 such that the baby is surrounded by the lip 42 of the insert 14.

With particular reference to FIGS. 4-6, a seat 10 a is provided and may include a base 12 a and an insert 14. In view of the substantial similarity in structure and function of the components associated with the seat 10 with respect to the seat 10 a, like reference numerals are used hereinafter and in the drawings to identify like components while like reference numerals containing letter extensions are used to identify those components that have been modified.

The base 12 a may include a recessed portion 16, a contoured top surface 18, and a pair of support surfaces 20 a. The base 12 a may additionally include sidewalls 22 a that extend from and are substantially perpendicular to the top surface 18 in a direction toward the support surfaces 20 a.

The sidewalls 22 a may include a substantially constant width (W) extending along the length of the sidewalls 22 a between the support surfaces 20 a. The width (W) of the sidewalls 22 a may define the overall shape and size of the sidewalls 22 a and may additionally define an opening 48 located between the sidewalls 22 a and a surface (not shown) supporting the base 12 a.

A portion of each sidewall 22 a may cooperate with the support surfaces 20 a to support the base 12 a. For example, each sidewall 22 a may include ends 50 that oppose and are in contact with a surface supporting the base 12 a. The ends 50 may be substantially coplanar with the support surfaces 20 a and may be formed such that the sidewalls 22 a are substantially perpendicular to the support surfaces 20 a at the ends 50. As such, the sidewalls 22 a may extend in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis 32 of the base 12 a and may extend substantially perpendicular to the support surfaces 20 a. The junction between each support surface 20 a and the sidewalls 22 a at each end 50 may form a substantially ninety-degree (90°) angle and may be in contact with a surface supporting the base 12 a. Contact between the base 12 a at the ends 50 of each sidewall 22 a and at each support surface 20 a supports the base 12 a and, thus, a baby received within the recessed portion 16 at the insert 14 relative to the surface.

As shown in FIG. 6, a thickness (T) of the base 12 a may be substantially uniform. As such, the thickness (T) of the base 12 a at the support surfaces 20 a and at the sidewalls 22 a at each end 50 of the sidewalls 22 a may be substantially equal.

With particular reference to FIGS. 7-9, a seat 10 b is provided. In view of the substantial similarity in structure and function of the components associated with the seat 10 a with respect to the seat 10 b, like reference numerals are used hereinafter and in the drawings to identify like components while like reference numerals containing letter extensions are used to identify those components that have been modified.

The seat 10 b may include a base 12 b and an insert 14. The base 12 b is virtually identical to the base 12 a with the exception that the sidewalls 22 b include a width (W) that is smaller than the width (W) of the sidewalls 22 a of the base 12 a. As such, the sidewalls 22 b include ends 50 b that are smaller than the ends 50 a of the base 12 a. As such, the sidewalls 22 b extend along the longitudinal axis 32 of the base 12 b at each end 50 b to a lesser extent than the sidewalls 22 a of the base 12 a. Further, the reduction in width (W) of the sidewalls 22 b likewise reduces the contact area between the ends 50 b and the support surfaces 20 a of the base 12 b and a surface (not shown) supporting the base 12 b. As such, the base 12 b may include a lighter construction when compared to the base 12 a.

With particular reference to FIG. 10, the seat 10 b is shown as being stackable relative to additional seats 10 b. While FIG. 10 shows a series of seats 10 b stacked relative to one another, seats 10 a and 10 c (described below) could likewise be positioned such that numerous seats 10 a or 10 c are stacked relative to one another. Allowing the seats 10 b to be stacked relative to one another allows a plurality of seats 10 b to be easily stored by reducing the space required to store the various seats 10 b, as the various seats 10 b are permitted to nest within one another.

With particular reference to FIGS. 11-13, a seat 10 c is provided and may include a base 12 c and an insert 14. In view of the substantial similarity in structure and function of the components associated with seats 10 a and 10 b with respect to the seat 10 c, like reference numerals are used hereinafter and in the drawings to identify like components, while like reference numerals containing letter extensions are used to identify those components that have been modified.

The base 12 c may include a recessed portion 16, a contoured top surface 18 c, and sidewall surfaces 22 c. The insert 14 is received by the recessed portion 16 and is disposed within the contoured top surface 18 c, such that a lip 42 surrounding the outer perimeter of the insert 14 extends at least partially over an area of the recessed portion 16. The sidewall surfaces 22 c are similar to the sidewall surfaces 22 a and 22 b of the seats 10 a, 10 b, respectively, with the exception that the sidewall surfaces 22 c extend farther away from the bottom 17 of the recessed portion 16 to provide the recessed portion 16 with an increased depth. In one configuration, this depth may be approximately equal to seven inches (7 in) or more. The increased depth of the sidewall surfaces 22 c may provide the recessed portion 16 with inner walls 60 that extend partially along or entirely along the length of the insert 14 in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 32. The walls 60 may oppose an occupant such as a baby (not shown) when positioned in the seat 10 c to inhibit inadvertent removal of the baby from the base 12 c.

A top surface 18 c is formed between the sidewall surfaces 22 c and the lip 42 of the insert 14 and may include a depression 30 c, a first peak 34 c, and a second peak 36 c. The sidewall surfaces 22 c may additionally include ends 50 c that support the base 12 c relative to the ground during use.

The top surface 18 c may provide the base 12 c with a first opening 62 and a second opening 64 that extend between the first peaks 34 c and the second peaks 36 c, respectively, as well as between the opposing walls 60. The openings 62 and 64 provide access to the insert 14 between the support sidewall surfaces 22 c and may provide unobstructed access for positioning the baby in the seat 10 c or for removing the baby from the seat 10 c.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A seat comprising: a rigid body having a unitary construction, said rigid body including a recessed area defining a seating location; and an insert secured to said rigid body within said recessed area and being formed from a different material than said rigid body.
 2. The seat of claim 1, wherein said rigid body includes a substantially planar bottom surface supporting said rigid body during use.
 3. The seat of claim 1, wherein said rigid body includes a first leg and a second leg supporting said rigid body during use.
 4. The seat of claim 3, wherein said first leg and said second leg each extend along a width of said rigid body.
 5. The seat of claim 3, wherein said first leg and said second leg each extend along an entire width of said rigid body.
 6. The seat of claim 5, wherein said first leg and said second leg each include a first portion extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said rigid body and a second portion extending in a direction substantially parallel to said rigid body.
 7. The seat of claim 6, wherein said first portion and said second portion include the same material thickness.
 8. The seat of claim 1, wherein said rigid body is formed from one of plastic or wood.
 9. The seat of claim 8, wherein said insert is formed from one of foam, fabric, or plastic.
 10. The seat of claim 1, wherein said rigid body is formed by one of injection molding, pressure forming, thermoforming, extruding, blow molding, foaming, rotational molding, wood forming.
 11. The seat of claim 10, wherein said insert is formed form one of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam molding, sewing, or plastic molding.
 12. The seat of claim 1, wherein said rigid body is formed from plastic and said insert is formed from foam.
 13. The seat of claim 1, wherein said rigid body is formed from wood and said insert is formed from foam.
 14. The seat of claim 1, wherein said rigid body is formed from plastic and said insert is formed from fabric.
 15. The seat of claim 1, wherein said rigid body is formed from wood and said insert is formed from fabric.
 16. The seat of claim 1, wherein said seating location includes a head support and a foot support.
 17. The seat of claim 16, wherein said rigid body includes a bottom surface supporting said rigid body during use, said head support extending in a direction away from said bottom surface to a greater extent than said foot support.
 18. The seat of claim 1, wherein said rigid body is operable to nest with another rigid body.
 19. The seat of claim 1, wherein said rigid body is operable to nest with another rigid body having an identical structure.
 20. The seat of claim 1, wherein said rigid body includes two discrete legs supporting said rigid body during use.
 21. The seat of claim 20, wherein at least one of said legs extends along an entire width of said rigid body in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said rigid body.
 22. The seat of claim 20, wherein both of said legs extend along an entire width of said body in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said rigid body. 